Whilst we may tend to think of gardens as being a collection of trees, shrubs, perennials, groundcovers and annuals, most of which produce flowers at some time during the year, sometimes it's the foliage that's more spectacular than the flowers, with the added advantage of lasting for many months, not just a few weeks.
These Zonal Pelargoniums (commonly called Geraniums, though not true geraniums) have colourfully marked leaves which never lose their interest. Some even change to brilliant reds in the autumn and then change back to green. The light variegated varieties have a tendency to revert to green (I must remove the green branch in the photo to see if I can halt the process). Some may also have deep burgundy coloured leaves all the year. I've been told that those with coloured or marked foliage are much better kept in pots instead of out in the open garden. Hence the collection on my deck. (Click for larger photo.)
15 comments:
Alice , all I can say is absolutely magnificent. I agree beautiful varigated foliage is a bonus, keeping the plant attractive after it has finished flowering. I think thats correct to remove any solid green stems to maintain the varigation. They are a beautiful display on your deck.
Wonderful collection of various plants on your deck. It gives me inspiration for next growing season. You must spend quite a bit of time tending all these lovely plants (but the results of your hard work are gorgeous flowers and foliage). Gives me the impetus to do better next spring. I didn't realize there were so many variations to the old geranium. Usually what we are able to purchase is the first variety.
Simply beautiful. I love the variety and your porch is enviable!
Beautiful picture of all the potted plants on the porch. You folks down under are lucky to be able to grow all the bankias and proteas. Here in the pac. northwest it to wet and cold. Always enjoy your posting.
Bob of bobsgarden.com
Pretty, Pretty Pretty !!! I love the parade on your porch. You remind me how much I love geraniums. One house near us several years ago had a hedge of red geraniums.. bloomed full force all year. What a wonderful plant.
Your deck looks so cool & inviting!
Lovely plants, have always admired the humble Geranium, & it seems to be one of the plants that dont die at my touch! We have some with the Ivy leaves, & they seem to thrive.
You know how I love geraniums Alice! You have some lovely varieties on your porch, all looking extremely pretty and making a bright, cheerful display. I had more than usual and tried some new varieties this year. I was very pleased with all of them. I'd love to have a greenhouse so that I could carry them over 'til next season instead of having to buy new ones.
Thanks for sharing these lovely photos.
The flowers are lovely!
I have alot of geraniums too.
Thankd for dropping by.
Very true Alice. I'm currently helping a friend landscape his new house but neither he, nor his wife, are avid gardeners so they're seeking a very low-maintenance garden.
My advice to them has been to use foliage rather than flowers to bring colour into their garden and takes out the need for them to constantly deadhead or feed them.
I love foliage plants - great post.
It's so stange to see all the blooming things in Australia when we are deep into fall here in Colorado.
Yesterday I helped my youngest daughter plant 60 pink tulips. We are already thinking spring!
Your geraniums are so pretty, Alice. I appreciate other people's geraniums, but I gave up trying to grow them myself. They just don't get so big and lovely for me.
It looks like a great view from your deck.
I hope you got the rain.
Love your geraniums, or whatever they are called. All my deck flowers got wilted by frost a few weeks ago, all except the geraniums - I had pushed the pot up under the eaves - and they are still blooming. I finally brought them into the basement to try to save over the winter.
Foliage, yes, it can be so wonderful. I love varigated foliage on native grasses and the like. Well done.
What beauties! I like the one with blush pink flowers, and white edged leaves. I have one from my Mom, it has oranges and yellows in the leaves, must see if I can find a picture of it, or take one!
Your pelargoniums do really have fantastic and different foliages Alice! What a great collection!
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